Get a monthly peek into your fetus's development with Meri Sehat. Stay informed and connected during your pregnancy journey.

Baby On Board: A Monthly Peek Into Your Foetus’ Development

Curious to know how your little one is grozing? Read on to understand your little one’s development in each month.

Introduction

Your baby is always growing and developing from conception through childbirth. To expecting mothers, it can be the most wondrous time. Every time you feel those tiny little kicks, there&rsquo;s a little bit of marvel, and a whole lot of curiosity of what must be going inside your womb. Is the baby alright? Do they feel safe, warm, and oh-so-loved because that&rsquo;s what you want their very first moments of life to be.

Curious to know how your little one is grozing? Read on to understand your little one&rsquo;s development in each month. 
&nbsp;

You are highly fertile on days when you are ovulating. This means that 2 weeks after your menses, your ovary will release the egg(s) in the fallopian tube. If the egg is fertilised by the sperm while it&#39;s in the fallopian tube, you&rsquo;ll conceive. 
&nbsp;

At this point, though, it&rsquo;ll only be a single cell containing your baby&rsquo;s unique DNA. However, this is soon followed by a rapid proliferation of cells and a cluster of around 32-64 cells will leave the fallopian tube, travelling to the uterus where a bedding for your foetus has already been prepared.

It&#39;s difficult to determine the exact date of conception, however, it&rsquo;s possible to get a rough estimate. Basically, your gynae will consider the first day of your last menstrual period as the starting time of your 40 weeks of pregnancy. 
&nbsp;

Understanding Fetal Development during Pregnancy

If you notice any of the symptoms of pregnancy, you should first self-evaluate yourself by conducting a home pregnancy test. One of the hormones called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) should be present in your blood right after you conceive. The placenta, which is the source of food for your developing foetus, is responsible for the high number of hCG present in your bloodstream. It is easily detected by home tests. So, if you get a positive result from the pregnancy strip test, it&rsquo;s your cue to consult your gynaecologist.

Other symptoms that normally indicate pregnancy include a missed period, tender breasts, and spotting or light bleeding at the time of implantation. Sometimes, a missed period is not the most reliable way since many women who do not get regular periods may not treat it as anything extraordinary.

 
From conception till labour, don&rsquo;t be afraid or nervous about your routine check-ups with the gynae. These visits are necessary for your and your baby&rsquo;s health. Think of it this way: you get to meet your baby while it&rsquo;s still inside you! 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Your baby&#39;s heartbeat may be detected around the 5-6 week mark.</li>
	<li>They will start developing normal sleep and wake cycles around 27 weeks.</li>
	<li>They will be physically developed by 39 weeks. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Just like you can&rsquo;t wait to hold your baby in your arms, they can&rsquo;t wait to meet you, too. But, it&rsquo;s a whole process to ensure the baby grows fully and you get to deliver it safely. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Zygote: When the egg is first fertilised by a sperm, the fertilised egg becomes a zygote, which is a single cell carrying genes from both the parents.</li>
	<li>Blastocyst: The zygote continues to divide while travelling down the fallopian tube to the uterus (3-5 days after fertilisation) and eventually forms a blastocyst, a group of cells turning into a hollow sphere nearly 5-6 days after fertilisation. It&rsquo;s also referred to as the early stage of an embryo.</li>
	<li>Embryo: The blastocyst remains in the uterus for several days. Then, it implants in the endometrium where it continues to grow. Approximately, 10-12 days after fertilisation, it develops into an embryo.</li>
	<li>Foetus: Finally, about 9 weeks after implantation, you get a foetus.</li>
	<li>Baby/Newborn: It takes around 40 weeks (3 trimesters) for the baby to develop completely and be ready for birth. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/the-virtual-healthcare-revolution-bridging-gaps-with-online-doctor-consultations">Healthcare </a>providers recommend prenatal vitamins, mainly folic acid throughout pregnancy. It&rsquo;s important to consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day to reduce the foetus&#39; risk of developing neural tube defects<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
&nbsp;

The sperm fertilises the egg in your fallopian tube, leading to the formation of blastocyst. Later, an embryo forms and it eventually gets implanted in your uterus. 
&nbsp;

Checking yourself out in the mirror, you may not &ldquo;look&rdquo; like you&rsquo;re pregnant. It&rsquo;s the same ol&rsquo; body that you&rsquo;re so used to. Or, is it? Because that&rsquo;s just the surface and, if you&rsquo;ve officially conceived, the tiny cluster of cells in your uterus is growing at a crazy speed.

Believe it or not, your body is undergoing significant changes at this time to make room for your baby. As a result, you can experience morning sickness, fatigue, swollen breasts, and mood swings. (Remember, not all women experience these early PMS-like symptoms, so don&rsquo;t worry if you&rsquo;re not feeling a thing) 
&nbsp;

Your body boosts its blood supply to provide oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby, your heart rate rises, and your uterus gets ready to assist the growth of the placenta and the foetus. 
&nbsp;

4-6 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>At this time, your foetus is as tiny as a poppy seed or a pea.</li>
	<li>It is growing the structures that will eventually shape the face and neck.</li>
	<li>The heart, blood vessels, lungs, liver, and stomach are beginning to develop.</li>
	<li>A home pregnancy test can show positive results.</li>
</ul>

 
8-9 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is now about the size of a raspberry or a medium green olive that&rsquo;s almost 1-inch big.</li>
	<li>The tip of the nose as well as eyelids and ears are starting to develop.</li>
	<li>Fingers and toes begin to form, and are clearly distinct from the previously webbed hands and feet.</li>
</ul>

 
12 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>This week, your foetus is as big as a lime that&rsquo;s about 5-6 cm.</li>
	<li>Its heartbeat is now audible with a special instrument.</li>
	<li>All the vital organs form by the end of this stage. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

This stage of pregnancy is frequently regarded as the most enjoyable. By this point, any morning sickness and other symptoms of early pregnancy should have subsided. Beware; you&rsquo;ll soon experience heartburn and indigestion, occasional headaches, varicose veins, and pregnancy brain.

Your gynae can suggest some screening tests. Make sure to discuss with your doctor any medical history, family history, or genetic concerns that can put you or your baby at threat. An anatomy ultrasound is usually conducted between weeks 18 and 22, which will also reveal the gender of your baby. 
&nbsp;

13-15 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is now the size of an orange or a pear.</li>
	<li>It is now able to blink its eyes.</li>
	<li>The heart and blood vessels have developed completely.</li>
	<li>The sex organs start to develop. Boy or girl, you can ask your gynae if you want to have a gender reveal before birth.</li>
	<li>And, like a soft peach, there&rsquo;s fuzz (lanugo) covering the head, eyebrows, and the whole body.</li>
	<li>The foetus starts to look more like a baby and there&rsquo;s some slight movements.</li>
</ul>

 
16-19 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is the size of an avocado now.</li>
	<li>The foetus is now able to suck a thumb, make faces, yawn, and stretch.</li>
	<li>It fully develops the ability to hear in the womb.</li>
	<li>Those little fingers and toes have now got fingerprints.</li>
	<li>The heart rate is 140-150 beats per minute.</li>
	<li>Its nervous system is maturing.</li>
	<li>Also, a protective covering called vernix caseosa forms over your foetus&rsquo; skin to protect it from being wrinkled at birth.</li>
</ul>

 
20-23 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is now the size of a large banana.</li>
	<li>There&rsquo;ll be lots of movement from turning and twisting to even somersaults.</li>
	<li>Its taste buds develop as it starts swallowing a bit of amniotic fluid every day.</li>
	<li>At 22 weeks, the foetus weighs nearly a pound. Its senses grow sharper with each passing day, too.</li>
	<li>It&rsquo;s time for your anatomy or anomaly scan. Your gynae would have prepared you regarding it. It&rsquo;s basically an examination of the placenta to ensure that it is healthy and correctly connected, and that the baby is growing appropriately. On the ultrasound, you will be able to observe the baby&#39;s heartbeat and movement of its torso, arms, and legs. You will be able to discuss the gender of your baby with the doctor.</li>
</ul>

 
24-27 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>The size of your foetus is about an ear of corn or as big as a cabbage.</li>
	<li>The skin of the foetus is pink.</li>
	<li>At this time, the foetus can now sense being upside down in the womb as the inner ear is fully developed.</li>
	<li>It responds to the sound by moving or through an increase in pulse rate.</li>
	<li>Its hiccups can now be felt by the mother.</li>
	<li>Eyes begin to open.</li>
	<li>The lungs have now developed enough that should the mother-to-be deliver at this stage, the baby will be able to survive with specialist care in a neonatal unit. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Only 2 months left to go! Can you believe it? Now, each week&rsquo;s development will help the foetus prepare for birth. The foetus acquires weight at a super-fast rate; gaining this body fat will be beneficial after delivery.

Note: Despite the fact that popular culture only recognises 9 months of pregnancy, you can be pregnant for 10 months. The average full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, which may extend into the 10th month. It&#39;s also easy to miss your due date by a week or two and deliver in 41 or 42 weeks<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
&nbsp;

28-31 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is as big as a head of lettuce or coconut that weighs 1-1.5 kg.</li>
	<li>It begins to experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which means it has started to dream and smile while sleeping.</li>
	<li>The fingernails are growing.</li>
	<li>Lanugo is starting to disappear.</li>
	<li>The brain has more convulsions to be able to hold more brain cells.</li>
	<li>The developing foetus keeps growing and creating body fat reserves.</li>
	<li>Another major development that occurs is how bone marrow overtakes spleen and tissue groups in the production of red blood cells.</li>
	<li>Brain connections are developing rapidly.</li>
	<li>Your foetus now settles into the right position for birth.</li>
</ul>

 
32-35 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Now, the foetus has reached the size of a bunch of celery or pineapple, that&rsquo;s almost 41-46 cm big.</li>
	<li>All major organs are developed, except the lungs.</li>
	<li>Your little one is busy practising real-life skills, including sucking, breathing, and swallowing.</li>
</ul>

Note: A few drops of a yellowish fluid will start to leak from your breast, indicating that your breast is ready to produce milk to meet your baby&rsquo;s needs after birth.

 
36-39 Weeks

<ul>
	<li>Your foetus is like a bunch of kale or mini watermelon, 46-53cm.</li>
	<li>Its pink-tinted skin is now white.</li>
	<li>The brain of the baby is growing fast; its hearing is extra sharp and the lungs are completely developed.</li>
	<li>The bones and cartilage are still soft to ensure smooth delivery; they will harden during the first few years after birth.</li>
	<li>While blood circulation and immune system are almost perfectly developed, the digestive system will take some time after birth to fully mature.</li>
	<li>The position of the baby is upside down, at this stage.</li>
	<li>It&#39;s reached the birthweight, i.e., it weighs between 6 and 9 pounds, and is almost ready to pop.</li>
</ul>

 
The final few weeks of pregnancy are classified as follows<a href="#accordion">[3][4]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Early Term: 37-38 weeks</li>
	<li>Full Term: 39-40 weeks</li>
	<li>Late Term: 41-42 weeks</li>
	<li>Post Term: 42 weeks and on 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Conclusion

Regular prenatal care, like taking vitamins, visiting doctor&rsquo;s appointments and having all suggested testing is essential throughout each trimester. A gynae can verify that your foetus is developing normally and that your health is also not being side-lined throughout your pregnancy. They can also provide advice and proper resources for assistance.

What happens before childbirth is uncertain and it&#39;s ok to feel apprehensive. But you need to keep in mind that you&#39;re doing everything you can to give your baby a safe and nurturing environment, and it will be an amazing experience to see your child for the first time. 
&nbsp;

Key Takeaways

<ul>
	<li>Women are highly fertile days when they are ovulating, i.e., 2 weeks after the menstruation when the ovary releases the egg in the fallopian tube. If the egg is fertilised by the sperm while it&#39;s in the fallopian tube, it results in conception or fertilisation.</li>
	<li>It&#39;s very difficult to determine the day of conception; however, practitioners usually calculate it by referring to the first day of the last menstrual period as a starting point of the 40 weeks of pregnancy.</li>
	<li>Pregnancy can be confirmed through home kits that measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in the blood.</li>
	<li>Other usual signs of pregnancy include missing a period, tender breasts, and a little bleeding or spotting.</li>
	<li>Development of a baby begins from the time it&rsquo;s a blastocyst. It then matures into an embryo and finally a foetus. It takes around 39-40 weeks, or 3 trimesters, for the baby to develop completely. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Trusted By